Former (first) (4387) proteros by Greek Word Studies

Remember (363) (anamimnesko from ana = again + mimnesko = remember so literally recall again is more forceful than mimnesko alone) carries idea of carefully thinking back and reconstructing something in one’s mind, not merely remembering. Call to remembrance. Cause to remember. To remind someone of something. In passive voice means to be reminded or to remember. Remember is in the middle voice which is reflexive and can be rendered something like "remind yourselves" (cp similar use 2Cor 7:15). John MacArthur comments that the idea of anamimnesko in this passage... is that these fellow Jews, who were so close to salvation, should, truth-by-truth and event-by-event, look back on what they had learned and on what they had experienced because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This would be a strong deterrent to apostasy and a strong encouragement to belief. Anamimnesko is stronger than the simple verb mimnesko, and in this verse is a command in the present tense (present imperative) charging his faithful readers to continually recall to their minds the truths listed ("advantages, actions, accounting" in above table), one by one. Anamimnesko carries the idea of carefully thinking back over something in one’s mind, not simply remembering (2Cor 7:15). Compare the writer's charge here to the charge by Joshua to the leaders of the tribes to set up stones to function as signs (memorials)... Joshua 4:7 (Context = Josh 4:5, 6) then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” Anamimnesko - 6x in 6v - NAS = remember(1), remembered(1), remembers(1), remind(2), reminded(1). Mark 11:21 Being reminded, Peter said to Him, "Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered." Mark 14:72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he began to weep. Comment: This surely is one of the most poignant NT uses of anamimnesko! Put yourself in Peter's sandals for a moment, imagining his body heart rate pick up as he heard the first ominous crow of a rooster crow. Surely he won't crow again. And then as the second crow sounded forth imagine how he must have painfully recalled to his mind his Master's prophetic prediction! 1 Corinthians 4:17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 2 Corinthians 7:15 His (Titus - 2Co 7:13, 14) affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all (This "reminds" me of one of my favorite verses for those I have had the privilege to disciple - 3John 1:4), how you received him with fear and trembling. 2 Timothy 1:6-note For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. Comment: Paul is constantly actively stirring up "embers" of past memories to stimulate Timothy not to shrink from the sufferings (reproach and tribulation) that a stand for Christ is "guaranteed" to bring but that he should press on to maturity, to run the race with endurance, to fight the good fight, to finish the course, to keep the faith. Paul is saying in essence "Remember when God did this or that for us...when He answered our prayers so clearly...when He removed incredible obstacles...when He performed the impossible...etc. Beloved of the Father, may He grant each of us His all sufficient grace to continually have a ready recall of the great things God has done in our life so that we are encouraged and confident that He will complete the work He has begun in each of us (Php1:6-note). Hebrews 10:32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, Anamimnesko - 19x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Gen 41:9; Exod 23:13; Num 5:15; 10:9; 2 Sam 18:18; 20:24; 1 Kgs 4:20; 17:18; 2 Kgs 18:18, 37; Job 24:20; Ps 109:14; 16" class="scriptRef">Jer 4:16; Ezek 21:23f; 23:19; 29:16; 33:13, 16. Here are some representative uses... Numbers 5:15 the man shall then bring his wife to the priest, and shall bring as an offering for her one-tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall not pour oil on it nor put frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of memorial, a reminder (Hebrew = zakar; Lxx - anamimnesko) of iniquity. Numbers 10:9 "When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered (Hebrew = zakar; Lxx - anamimnesko) before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies. Beloved you may have begun well and if so you certainly want to end well. Here the writer of Hebrews says that a major component of finishing well is to remember well. And so the writer seeks to remind and recall them to manifest the love and steadfastness they had exhibited when they first fell in love with Jesus (cp Rev 2:4-note, Rev 2:5-note). Oh, how we all need to hear and heed the sage writer's plea! S Lewis Johnson... Now, the encouragement that he wants to give them is the same kind of encouragement that the author offered in the 6th chapter. You can see how this is very much upon his heart; the encouragement of believers who have been suffering for their faith. Back in Hebrews 6:10, he wrote to them, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” And, you’ll notice, He 10:32, reminds one of that, “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings.” And then in Hebrews 6:12, he said, “[But] do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” And in Hebrews 10:36, he says, “For you have need of endurance, so that having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” (Hebrews) To have enduring faith in trials, remember how God worked in the past (He 10:32, 33, 34). Steven Cole... “The former days” refers to the time just after these Hebrew Christians had been saved. The author draws their minds back to how God had worked in their lives during that time, in spite of some very difficult circumstances. His point is, “You did well then, so you can hang in there now and in the future if persecution hits.” He reminds them of three things that were true of them as new converts, which also are true of all believers: Remember how God enlightened you with a new, godly understanding of life. Unbelievers are described in Scripture as being spiritually blind, unable to “see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” (2Co 4:4) Only God can command the light to shine out of darkness. (6" class="scriptRef">2Co 4:6) He “shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2Co 4:4, 6). Before God opened our eyes, we did not even see our need for the Savior. We mistakenly thought that we were good enough to get into heaven by our own righteousness. We had no idea of how terrible our sins were or of how holy God is. We did not appreciate the fact that the Son of God gave Himself on the cross to pay our debt of sin. But then, while we were yet in such darkness, God graciously opened our eyes. With the converted slave trader, John Newton, we could sing, “I once was blind, but now I see!” I remind you, however, that the apostates had experienced some degree of enlightenment, and yet they were not truly saved (He 6:4-note). It is possible to have a fair amount of theological under-standing, and yet be lost! Some men have devoted their lives to studying the Bible and writing scholarly books. But these scholars have never repented of their sins and put their trust in Christ as Savior. They are “enlightened,” but headed for eternal destruction.

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